2ND LT GEORGE W. FISHER 4TH SUFFOLK

Second Lieutenant George William Fisher

1st/4th Battalion (Territorial) Suffolk Regiment

killed in action 17th November 1917

aged 26

South Africa and Cruachan, Bridge of Weir
Son of William Philips Fisher and Anna Mary Strang Brown

His Life

George William Fisher was born about 1891 in South Africa, the son of William Philips Fisher, a stockbroker from Paisley, Renfrewshire and Anna Mary Strang Brown from 38 New Street, Paisley, who had married in May Villa, Bridge of Weir on 5th July 1888. Witnesses were William Brown and Wilhelmina Joan Philips Brown, Anna's sister. William and Wilhelmina were married on 28th September 1888.

In 1881, Anna (21) and Wilhelmina (15) had been living in Paisley with their father George Brown, a hatter, widow of Mary Philips.

William Fisher and his new wife Anna moved to South Africa soon after their marriage. William Brown and Wilhelmina remained in Bridge of Weir.

In April 1891, William (32), Wilhelmina (25) and their first child Mary (1) were visitors in the home of Anna Brown (62) in May Villa, Bridge of Weir. William was a book keeper. Soon after the Census, in May 1891, William bought Cruachan a new 10-roomed villa in Bonar Crescent, Bridge of Weir. Anna moved with William and died in Cruachan on 22nd June 1898.

In 1901 William and Wilhelmina Brown and their family of four were still living in Cruachan. William (42) was a clerk in a thread mill. The family had two domestic servants, Agnes and Susan Aitken from Bridge of Weir.

By 1911, George Fisher (19) had come to Scotland from South Africa to study law, and was living in Cruachan, with his aunt Wilhelmina Brown and her family. Wilhelmina (45) was now widowed and living on private means with five children, Mary (21), a domestic science teacher, Anna (19), William (12), George (11) and 6 year old Williamina. The family had a boarder, Frederick Blair (22) from Edinburgh, a clerk in an East India Merchants. Marion Clayton (20) from Kirkinner Hill, Lanarkshire was their general domestic servant.

After graduating, George probably became articled in London. He joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps as a Private (9311) on 4th February 1916. He was sent to No. 14 Officer Cadet Battalion on 26th November 1916 and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant with the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 28th February 1917, serving in "C" Company.

Second Lieutenant Fisher first joined the theatre of war in France on 12th April 1917. In 1917 the 1st/4th Suffolk Regiment formed part of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division which was engaged in April and May 1917 in the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, part of the Arras offensive. George Fisher joined the battalion on 1st May. The Division then took part in operations on the Flanders coast, and later fought in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), in particular the Battles of Menin Court Ridge and Polygon Wood in September 1917.

George Fisher survived those engagements. The 33rd Divisional history records: 'After Polygon Wood, the 33rd Division was withdrawn and took over the newly captured line East of Messines. owing to the heavy nature of the ground for the river Douave had flooded its banks, this was a place of practical inactivity, except for considerable shelling in the evening...Early in November a further move was ordered and the Division was again moved North of Ypres, where on 6th November it relieved the 3rd Canadian Division in the Passchendaele Salient.' George Fisher was killed in action on 17th November 1917 soon after the battalion relieved the 87th Canadians at Abraham Heights, and is buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, north east of Ypres.

Anna Mary Strang Fisher returned to the UK from Cape Town on 10th Jan 1921 with William Philips Fisher (27), most likely another son. They were both intending to stay in England. Her application for her dead son's medals gave an address of 58 Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, NW3. She died in Hendon, Middlesex in 1940. Anna's sister Wilhelmina died at Cruachan on 3rd February 1944, leaving the house to her daughter Anna, rent free, or her brother George if she declined, subject to him paying Anna a commercial rent.

Anna Brown had been named executrix in the will of Fred Barr who was killed in 1915. It seems likely that she was his intended wife.

Siblings

1911 Census

1921 Passenger List

Birthplace

Name

Age

Name

Age

George*

19

South Africa

William Philips

27

South Africa

* = not in William and Anna Fisher's family home - see text for details

NEUVE EGLISE. 11 Nov 1917. Church Parade for 50 o'ranks per Coy in Convent Working party as for 8th. Conference for all officers under C.O. on training & work in trenches. Weather dull with some rain.

MERRIS AREA. 12 Nov 1917. March to very scattered billets just west of METTEREN starting at about 9.15 am and arriving at about 1.30 pm. The Band played for the first time on the march. Weather very fine.

13 Nov 1917. Ordinary parades during the morning. Small range used by Snipers. Weather very fine.

14 Nov 1917. C.O. and O.C. Coys visit the line to be taken over starting in a bus from Bde. H.Q. at 8 am. Parades as usual. Range used by 2 Coys. Weather dull but fine.

POTIJZE. 16 Nov 1917. Embussed on main road at 8 am, proceeding in busses [sic] to just S. WEST of YPRES and marching to a camp at POTIJZE. Camp in bad condition (bivouacs). Time of arrival about 3.30 pm.

TRENCHES. 17 Nov 1917. Part of Transport moves back WEST of YPRES. Bn moves off at 2.45 pm and relieves 87th Canadians at ABRAHAM HEIGHTS (left support Bn). Relief complete about 6.30 pm. Advanced party sent to front line about 8 pm and suffered the following casualties just outside left front Bn HQ (Hillside). 2 Lieut G.W. FISHER killed. 2 Lieut O.C. MITCHELL wounded. 1 O.R. killed. 3 O.R.s wounded.

18 Nov 1918. Move off at about 4 pm. and relieve 102nd Canadians in left subsector. PASCHENDALE. Rations drawn and carried up from SEINE Dump by parties kept back from Coys for the purpose. Relief complete about 8 pm (a good relief).